Saturday Fire Update - North San Diego and Western Riverside Counties

Posted October 27, 2007, 12:48 PM.

Tropical moisture in the air today, as well as partly cloudy skies, should help aid the firefighting efforts by keeping temperatures down and raising relative humidities. Air quality should continue to be poor Saturday.

Progress has been made in containing the major fires over the last day.

The Rice Canyon Fire in the Fallbrook areas is 80% contained Saturday morning, with burn area estimates remaining at 9,000 acres. Portions of Fallbrook have been reopened to residents. 206 homes have been destroyed, as well as two commercial properties and 40 outbuildings. 120 of the destroyed homes were in the mobile home park.

The Poomacha Fire is 45% contained at 43,000 acres burned. Cal Fire has confirmed that it's joined with the Witch Fire to the south. 78 homes and 19 outbuilding have been destroyed in the fire. Backfires were reportedly being lit on Palomar Mountain to help contain the fire, which had reportedly crested the mountain in some areas. The fire was burning towards Lake Henshaw and the Sunrise Summit area at last reports.

Highway 76 is closed between Highway 79 east of Lake Henshaw to Valley Center Road.

The Horno/Ammo Fire on Camp Pendleton is 90% contained as of Saturday morning, and is 21,084 acres in size.